English bishop to comment on religious education

London, Mar. 12, 2008 (CWNews.com) - An English bishop appeared today before a parliamentary committee, to answer questions about allegations of "fundamentalism" in Catholic schools.

Bishop Patrick O'Donohue of Lancaster was summoned to appear before an education committee for the House of Commons, on the prodding of Barry Sheerman, a Labor party member who had questioned the bishop's influence over parochial schools. Sheerman objected when Bishop O'Donohue ruled against the use of a sex-education curriculum in his diocese.

Bishop O'Donohue said that he was looking forward to the opportunity to address the parliamentary committee, because he hoped to explode some "urban myths" about education in Catholic schools. "One such myth," the bishop said, "is that faith education works all right as long as people are not that serious about their faith." Take that you pommy wanker.

The bishop was unmistakably referring to a statement by Barry Sheerman, who said earlier this year, "It seems to me that faith education works all right as long as people are not that serious about their faith. But as soon as there is a more doctrinaire attitude questions have to be asked."